Chapter Text
“It’s rather obvious,” Sherlock stated, fixing John with a look that would’ve been absolutely scathing, had it not been directed at John.
“Why don’t you spell it out for me then?” John snapped. Sherlock rolled his eyes and stood from the couch, his dressing gown sliding down on one shoulder to reveal the deep valley of a single collarbone and the pale, tantalizing expanse that was the column of Sherlock’s neck.
“They’re married,” he stated simply. John’s eyes widened.
“Married. That has to be one of your terribly delivered jokes.” John’s eyes stayed resolutely on Sherlock’s, a notion that Sherlock found rather dull. The detective turned and walked to the kitchen, fiddling with a mug that was more chipped than not before settling on making tea.
“They’re not married, of course, even though my brother could certainly make that happen. It’s a civil partnership,” Sherlock explained. He turned back to John, the mug still in his hand. “Tea?”
John sat, stunned, for a moment before he replied by nodding his head. Sherlock returned to busying himself with the job of making tea, allowing John to think for a moment. “How long?” he asked quietly.
“Have they been married? A little less than a year. How long they’ve been together, well, that depends on which one of them you’re asking.”
“How do you mean?”
“The general consensus is that they’ve been seeing each other for three years, but that’s not exactly true. A few weeks after Lestrade’s divorce was finalized, Mycroft made some pitiful excuse to kidnap Lestrade and they ended up sleeping together. They decided to just end it at that, but Lestrade couldn’t let go so he sought my brother out in the weeks afterward. It wasn’t terribly hard, of course, as Mycroft was equally enamored. Things went on predictably from there.” Sherlock concluded his story by bringing John’s cup of tea over to him and dropping down in his own armchair.
“Greg and Mycroft… That’s an odd pair. Didn’t even know Greg fancied blokes,” John commented absently.
“When one is in denial about oneself, it’s rather hard to see what one is denying in others,” Sherlock muttered into his cup. John rolled his eyes.
“I’m not in denial.”
Oh? Sherlock sat up.
“About being into blokes,” John needlessly clarified. “Had a much-needed thinking session and I’m over telling myself that I’m something I’m not.” John took a sip from his mug of tea, watching Sherlock over the rim of it.
“Well, you know that I don’t find women particularly… aesthetically soothing.” Sherlock winced at his own choice of words.
“You don’t find anyone ‘aesthetically soothing’,” John teased with a slight chuckle.
“True,” Sherlock conceded, smiling a small smile. “Except for you.”
John swallowed. “You told me on that first day, didn’t you? At Angelo’s,” he inquired quietly.
“Yes.”
“Right.”
“Yeah.”
“Well,” Sherlock started, standing up from his chair and disregarding his tea on the floor. “I’ll be in my bedroom. The door will be open.” He stalked out of the room after that, leaving John with the sound of footsteps on the stairs and a mind full of hopeful thoughts.
Instead of continuing to mull over what had just happened, John pulled his mobile from his pocket. He found Greg’s contact and smiled before he began typing a message.
7:23 PM: You’re a terrible friend. JW
7:25 PM: Has Sherlock managed to figure out your password again? GL
7:26 PM: A terrible, deceitful, sneaky git. JW
7:27 PM: I’m going to show up at your doorstep if you don’t explain sometime within the next 2 minutes. GL
7:28 PM: Mycroft. JW
7:31 PM: The Consulting Child finally spilled?? GL
7:33 PM: How could you not tell me?! How could drunk you not tell me?! JW
7:36 PM: “Oh yeah by the way mate I’m married to Sherlock’s mysterious and sometimes downright bloody scary older brother who also happens to be the most powerful man in England” GL
7:37 PM: How do you have the time to write these long messages? Aren’t you supposed to be doing your job or something? JW
7:38 PM: This is why Sherlock says he has to do your job for you, isn’t it? JW
7:40 PM: He does not have to “do my job for me” but he is helpful. Sometimes. Don’t tell him I said that or his ego will grow too big for your flat. And to answer your question I’m currently sitting at my desk waiting for Mycroft to bring me a takeaway and possibly a blowjob if I’m good. GL
7:41 PM: Could you tell that I made that message especially long out of spite? GL
7:43 PM: I’m blocking your number and you’re officially banned from my flat. Mycroft too. JW
7:44: :) GL
John put his phone down and rubbed a hand over his face. He slouched back into his chair for a few moments, simply massaging the bridge of his nose.
“Bugger it,” John muttered to himself as he stood up and began the walk to Sherlock’s room.